Closure member



March 29, 1966 R. KIMMEL CLOSURE MEMBER Filed March 5, 1965 [a II ME Hm5A wa 6Z4;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,243,071 CLGSURE MEMBER Richard L.Kimmel, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Chemagro Corporation, New York,N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 436,896 6Claims. (Cl. 21556) This invention relates to a novel closure member forcontainers used for storing and shipping various liquid products.

It has been known, heretofore, to provide means for continuously ventingcontainers to relieve gaseous pressure generated by agitation of a lowvolatile liquid in the container or by atmospheric changes. These meanshave een provided, generally, as a safety measure to minimize the dangerof explosion or rupture of the container due to internal pressure builtup by the liquid contents of the container.

It has been found, however, that in instances where adequate venting isaccomplished often the atmosphere external to the container isintroduced therein via the venting means and in situations where theliquid contents are susceptible to reaction with air known venting meansfail to provide suflicient protection in this respect.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to overcomethe disadvantages of prior art means to relieve gaseous pressuregenerated by a low volatile-liquid of novel closure means whichadvantageously permits the r release of internal gaseous pressureoccasioned by the vaporization of the liquid content of a containerwithout substantial loss of the liquid content and without substantialintroduction therein of the atmosphere to which the pressure is vented.

Still further objects and the entire scope and applicability of thepresent invention will become apparent from the detailed descriptiongiven hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detaileddescription and specific examples, while indicating preferredembodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only,since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdetailed description.

The invention will be best understood in connection with the drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 isa vertical sectional view-through one form of the novelclosure member of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the closure member shown in FIGURE 1;

' vent the porous FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the valvemeans associated in combination with the novel closure member of thisinvention;

3,243,071 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 ice S-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3(4H)ylmethyl phosphorodithioate. In this embodiment of the invention theclosure member 14 consists of a top portion 16 having a hexagonal head,as shown in FIGURE 2, which is of somewhat larger diameter than that ofthe neck opening 10. Depending downwardly from the bottom side of topportion 16 is body portion 18, the outer peripheral surface of which isprovided with external thread means 20 for detachable sealing connectionto the internally threaded neck opening 10 of the container.

Extending axially through the closure member 14 is an aperture 22.Adjacent the lower end of the body portion 18 within the aperture 22there is a circumferentially inwardly directed flange 24 on which restsa gas-permeable, substantially liquid-impermeable disk 26. In sealingengagement with the inner peripheral wall 28 of the body portion 18 andthe upper circumferential surface of the disk 26 is O-ring 30 whichserves to maintain a tight fit on the disk should the plastic materialfrom which, preferably, the closure member is made, creep. The O-ringalso serves to prevent any liquid from leaking out around the valve. i

Extending downwardly into the body portion 18 from the top 16, throughthe aperture 22 is relief valve 32 more clearly shown in oneembodimentin FIGURE 3. The relief valve has a flange portion 34 extending outwardly circumferentially from the upper part of the externally threadedbody portion 36, the threads 38 of which engage the inner peripheralwall 28 of the body portion 18. V

The relief valve 32 is provided with an aperture 40 extending axiallyupwardly from the bottom 42 of the relief valve to a height adjacent thebottom side of the flange 34 where it terminates with circumferentiallyinwardly directed flange 44 and aperture 46 having a diameter somewhatnarrower than aperture 40 but sufficiently large to permit valve stem.48 to reciprocatingly move in and out of apertures 40 and 46. The uppersurface 50 of the relief valve 32 is provided with valve seat 52, whichis in sealing communication with valve head 54. Preferably, sealingmeans such as O-ring 56 is provided to prevent undue escape of gasesfrom the container through the valve mechanism. v

The lower end of the valve stem 48 is provided with plate means 58having a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of aperture 40 andagainst which bears spring means 60 which is biased to retain valve head54 in sealing engagement with valve seat 52. The spring means 60 issufiiciently large ,as not to pass through aperture 46 and bears on thebottom side of inwardly directed flange 44. The bottom 42 of the reliefvalve is in sealing engagement with the upper surface of the O-ring 30.Thus, the O-ring additionally serves to predisk 30 from being damagedby.the relief valve.

A modification of the closure member 14 illustrated in FIGURE 1 is thatshown in FIGURE 4 wherein the novel closure member is shown applied tothe externally of a top portion 16 which is of somewhat larger diametershown applied to the internally threaded neck opening 10 of a container.12 filled with a liquid such as 0,0-dimethylthan that of the neckopening 10. Depending downwardly from the bottom side of top portion 16is peripheral flange member 62 which is internally threaded fordetachable connection to the neck opening 10 of the container. In thisembodiment there is, conveniently, provided a recess 64 in the topportion 16 in which rests the flange 34 of the relief valve 32.

Another modification of the closure member 14 is illustrated in FIGUREwhere it is depicted in association with a flexible spout 66 of acontainer 12. The flexible spout terminates with an externally threadedneck opening 10, As shown there is a separate cap member 68 having a topportion 70 provided with a downwardly handle means 43 which assists inurging the flexible spout 66 into an extended position. In theembodiment shown in FIGURE 5, the recess 64 extends downwardly adisstance sufiicient so that when the relief valve 34 is inserted inaperture 22 the valve head 54 in the closed position is below the uppersurface of the top portion 16. As a further modification, the reliefvalve, rather than being externally threaded, can be provided with asurface to give a force fit within the aperture 22 of the closure member14. In this instance, the relief valve is shown with a knurled outerperipheral surface. Preferably, also, in this embodiment there isprovided an O-ring or gasket 76 to provide sealing engagement of theflange member 16 with the neck spout 10.

In accordance with the embodiment shown in the various figures when theinternal pressure of the container 12 exceeds a predetermined value, forinstance, the ambient pressure existing in the environment surroundingthe external surface of the container or in usual situations atmosphericpressure, due to the generation of gas by a low volatile liquid therein,the vapors escape through the disk 30 and exert force on valve head 54or O-ring $6, compressing the spring 60 and urging the valve head 54 outof engagement with valve seat 52. The excess vapors are thus vented tothe atmosphere.

The spring 60, of course, is one selected having a pre-' determinedspring constant such that when the internal pressure of the containerresumes a predetermined value after expulsion therefrom of excess gasesthe spring will return to its original state, thus seating valve head 54in sealing engagement with valve seat 52 and preventing any introductionof the surrounding atmosphere into the container or further loss ofthecontainers contents. The choice of a suitable spring can easily bedetermined by those skilled in the art and 1 the spring tension can varyaccording to such factors as the size of the closure member and thestrength of the container.

Preferably, the closure member is made of a thermoplastic material suchas polyethylene or polypropylene but any plastic material resistant tothe liquid contents of the container can be employed.

The gas-permeable, substantially liquid -impermeable disk employed withthe instant invention can be made of carbon or the like. For instance,the disk can also be made of Carborundum, or a glass frit.

The volatile liquid of the container is, preferably, 0,0- dimethyl-'S-4-oxor'- 1,2,3-benzotriazin 3(4I.-I)-ylmethyl phosphorodithioate.The closure member is equally advantageously used when the liquid is0,0-diethylS-4-oxo- 1,2,3,-benzotriazin-3 (4H) -ylmethylphosphorodithioate.

I claim:

1. A closure member for a volatile liquid container comprising a topportion and an integral body portion adapted for connection to saidcontainer, an aperture extending longitudinally through said top portionand said body portiomsaid aperture at one end being in com- 1 municationwith the atmosphere and being in communication with the interior of thecontainer at the other end,

, a porous disk mounted within said aperture adjacent said a other end,valve means mounted within said aperture adjacent said one end, and ringsealing means below said valve means in sealing engagement with theuppersurthe interior of the container at the other end, a gas pervious,substantially liquid impervious disk mounted within said apertureadjacent said other end, valve means mounted within said apertureadjacent said one end, and ring sealing means below said valve means insealing engagement with the upper surface of said porous disk and saidvalve means, said valve means adaptable to vent the gaseous contents ofsaid container.

3. A closure member for a volatile liquid container comprising a topportion and a body portion, a first aperture extending longitudinallythrough said top portion and said body portion, said aperture at one endbeing in communication with the atmosphere and being in communicationwith the interior of the container at the other end, a detachable capmember having a downwardly depending flange member having threaded meanson the interior surface thereof for engagement with correspondingexternal threaded means on said container, said cap member provided witha second aperture overlying said aperture of said closure member, asealing ring in sealing engagement with said top portion and saidcontainer, a porous disk mounted within said first aperture adjacentsaid other end, valve means mounted within said first aperture adjacentsaid one end, ring sealing means below said valve means in sealingengagement with the upper surface of said porous disk and said valvemeans, said valve means adaptable to vent the gaseous contents of saidcontainer through said first and second i apertures.

4. A closure member for a volatile liquid container comprising a topportion and an integral body portion, said body portion having externalthreaded means for engagement with corresponding internal threaded meanson said container, an aperture extending longitudinally through said topportion'and said body portion, said aperture at one being incommunication with the atmosphere and being in communication with theinterior of the container at the other end, said aperture provided withan annular shoulder adjacent said other end, a gas pervious,substantially liquid impervious disk mounted on'said annular shoulder,valve means mounted within said aperture adjacent said one end,ringsealing means below said valve means in sealing engagement with theupper surface of said porous disk and said valve means, said valve meansadaptable to vent the gaseous contents of said container.

5. The closure member of claim 1 wherein the volatile liquid is 0,0-dimethyl S- hoxo-l=,2,3-benzotriaZin-3(4H)- ylmethyl phosphorodithioate.

6. The closure member of claim 1 wherein the volatile liquid is 0,0diethyl S-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3 (4H)- ylmethyl phosphorodithioate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS I OSEPH R.LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

- PESHOCK, As t mil? Examiner.

1. A CLOSURE MEMBER FOR A VOLATILE LIQUID CONTAINER COMPRISING A TOPPORTION AND AN INTEGRAL BODY PORTION ADAPTED FOR CONECTION TO SAIDCONTAINER, AN APERTURE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID TOP PORTIONAND SAID BODY PORTION, SAID APERTURE AT ONE END BEING IN COMMUNICATIONWITH THE ATMOSPHERE AND BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF THECONTAINER AT THE OTHER END, A POROUS DISK MOUNTED WITHIN SAID APERTUREADJACENT SAID OTHER END, VALVE MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID APERTUREADJACENT SAID ONE END, AND RING SEALING MEANS BELOW SAID VALVE MEANS INSEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID POROUS DISK AND SAIDVALVE MEANS, SAID VALVE MEANS ADAPTABLE TO VENT THE GASEOUS CONTENTS OFSAID CONTAINER.